Fastening system



Dec. 1950 H. s. ROSENBAUM 2963132 FASTEN1NG SYSTEM Filed Jan. '7. 1954INVENTOR FASTENING SYSTEM Harry S. Rosenbaum, Baltimore, Md., assignorto EaStern Products Corporation, a corporation of Marylaud Filed Jan. 7,1954, Set. N0. 402,712

4 Claims. (C1. 189-88) The present invention relates to a ceilingconstruction in a building assembly. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a fastening system for a suspended ceiling systemin which the ceiling boards utilized there- With are readily rernovedfor replacement thereof or for the purpose of gaining access to thespace above the boards.

lt has been the practice in recent years in the constructin of modernbuildings and in the renovation of antiquated buildings to employ asuspended ceiling system Wherein individually secured panels or ceilingboards are positioned in the suspended co-nstruotion. Generally, the'seceiling boards have sound dea dening 01 acoustical characteristics and,in addition, are pleasing in appeara.nce.

Prior to the instant invention, the heretofore known ceiling, boards orpanels were cons tructed such that they were permanently mounted inposition. Thus, if a panel were to be replaced er i f it were necessaryto gain access to the space above the ceiling, considerable time, laborand effort were expended in removing the panels. Moreover, oftentimes asingle panel or group of panels would become damaged and would therebyhave to be replaced. Hera again, considerable difiiculty was experiencedin removing the defective panels. In addition, the replacernent paneldid not always effect a true fit With the assembled panels, therebydestroying the appearance of the ceiling. 7 lt is, therefore, an objectof the present invention to provide a suspended ceiling constructionwherein each individual ceiling panel is securely locked in osition butis removable as desirecl.

Another object of the present invention is tq provide a ceilingconstruction which includes a panel fastening sys tem whe reby crossbars are firmly secured to supporting members, the supporting mernbersand cross bars. having flanges for the ends of the ceiling panels.

Still another object cf the present invention is to provide a clip forsecuring the cross bars to the supporting members, the clip being easilyassembled in position with the supporting members and cross bars.

Still another object of the present invention is td provide a lockingdevice whereby the ceiling panels or boards may be locked in position inthe ceiling assembly but may be conveniently removed from the lockedposition, as desired. V

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lockingelement for ceiling panels 01' boards Whereby a portion of the lockingelement extends below the ceiling panel or board, thereby providing forinstant operation of the locking device when the ceiling board is to bereplaced or removed.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instaut inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view cf the ceiling construction embodied in thepresent invention illustrating the manner ite Sites Patent in which thecross bars are secured in position between the supporting members by theclips and further illustrating the position of the locking elements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of Fig. 1illustrating the clip secured to a supporting member and a cross bar,showing in particular a locking element;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view cf the c1ip and locking element embodied inthe present invention as secured to a cross bar;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clip and cross bar with a Portion cf asupporting member shown in section; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the clip and cross bar with a portionof the supporting member shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, the ceilingconstruction embodied in the present invention is illustrated andincludes a pair of parallel elongated supporting members generallyindicated at 10. lt is understood that only a portion of the ceiling isshown in Fig. l, the complete ceiling construction including a pluralityof the supporting members 10. It is also understood that supportingmembers 10 may be spliced together to form continuous lengths when largeceiling areas are to be enclosed. The supporting members 10 are adaptedto depend f-rom the existing ceiling or from structural members or beamsby any convenient means, such as, for example,

in Fig. 5, is shaped to include an upper rib 16, vertical' portions 18,20 and horizontal flanges 22, 24. A flange cover 26 is clipped to theflanges 22, 24 and the under side thereof is thereby exposed to theinterior of the room and in order to eflect a modern and pleasingappearance, the underside of the flange cover 26 may be enameled withany suitable color.

Ceiling panels or boards 28, which are formed in desirable lengths, arepositioned on the flanges 22, 24 of the supporting members 10, andalthough any type cil ing board may be employed in the presentinvention, it is generally preferred that the ceiling boards 28 beformed of an acoustical material. As shown in Fig. 1, the ceiling boards28 are positioned end-to-end and engage cross bars, one 0f which isshown generally at 30. Referring to Fig. 2, the cross bar 30 is shownformed in an inverted T sectio-n and includes a vertical portion 32 andhorizontal flange portions 34 and 36. The flanges 34 and 36 are cappedby a flange cover 38, which may have its underside colored with anysuitable enamel, such as described above in connection with thesupporting men1- ber flange cover 26. It is apparent that ceiling boards28 are thus confined between the supporting members 10, and cross bars30, and are supported on the flanges thereof.

In order to secure the cross bars 30 to the supporting members 10, clipsare provided, one of which is general.ly indicated at 40 in Fig. 3. Theclip 40 is adapted to be pre-assembled with the cross bar 30 and isrigidly secured to the and thereof in a manner to be described below.Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, the clip 40 is shown comprising a bodyportion 42 and a head 44 integrally joined to the body portion. Thelower portion of the body portion 42 is formecl with a cut-out section45 from which is formed an outwardly projecting tongue 46. Extending,lengthwise o-f the body portion 42 and forrned a.long the upper edgethereof is an overhanging elongated Ing 48. The overhanging lug 48extends substantially parallel. with the body portion 42 and therebyforms a slot therebetween. In assembling the Clip 40 with the cross bar30, the vertical portion 32 is received in thC slot between theoverhanging lug 48 and the clip body portion 42. In order to rigidly secure the Clip 40 to the cross bar 30, the tongue 46 projects through analigned opening 50 formed in the vertical portion 32 of the cross barand is turned upwardly to engage the Clip body portion 4-2. When theClip 40 is assembled With the cross bar, Eh endrrmost portion of thecross bar extends tne length of the Clip body portion, terminating atthe clip head portion 44. Referring to Fig. 5, the head portion 44 isshown projecting outwardly from the cross bar 30 and is adapted toengage a supporting member ll0, thereby securing the cross bar to thCsupporting rnember. Tl1e head portion 44 is formed with projections 52and 54 which are adapted to extend through an opening 56 formed in thevertical portions 18, 20 of the supporting members. Shoulders 58 and 60are formed on the upper and lowermost ends of the head portion 44 anda1e adapted to contact the vertical portion 20 of the supporting mernber10. When the Clip 40 is assernbled with a supporting member 10, a cleat62 having a neck 64 integrally joined to the head portion 44 of the ciipextends through the opening 56 along with the projections 52 and 54. Theshoulders 58 and 60 abut against the vertical portion cf the supportingmember and tl1ereby prevent further movement cf the Clip. In order torigidl-y secure the Clip 40 to the supporting member 10, the cleat 62 istwisted from a vertical position shown in Fig. 3 to a horizontalposition illustrated in Figs. l, 4 and 5. By twisting the cleat 62, theneck portion 64 is fore-shortened and the shoulders 58 and 60 arethereby drawn into secure engagement With the vertical portion of thesupporting member 10. Bach end of the cross bar 30 is secured to a Clip40 which is in turn rigidly secured to a supporting member 10 (see Fig.l). With the cross bars 30 secured between the supporting members 10,the Ceiling boards 28 are dropped in place on the horizontal flangeswhich are formed 011 the supporting members and cross bars, and theceiling boards are thereby retained in osition thereon.

In Order to prevent the ceiling boards 28 from being mov.ed upwardly andto securely lock them in position on the flanges of the supportingmembers 10 and cross bars 30, the present invention incorporates alocking device, the locking-device being formed as a part of the Clip40. The body portion 42 of the Clip 40 is formed with a verticallyextending raised rib 66 :1 the endmost portion opposite t.he headportion 44 thereof, the vertically extending raised rib 66 forming avertical groove or slot 68, as seen in Fig. 4. A key 0r locking elementis positioned in the slot 68 and comprises an enlarged head 70, a shankportion 72, and a foot portion 74. The enlarged head 70 projects abovethe cross bar 30 and in the locking position is adapted to be rotateduntil the 2o is thereof is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis cf ihecross bar. As shown in Fig. l, one set of locking elements has beenromated to move the enlarged heads into engagernent Witn the uppersurface of the ceiling boards 23, thereby lock ing the ceiling boardsfrom upward movement. The other set of locking elements is illustratedin the unlocked position. In order to rotate the locking element therebyturning the head 70, a finger 76 is formed on t'ne foot portion 74 andprojects downwardly through adjacent ceiling boards 28 to the undersidethereof. The finger 76 thereby provides a convenient means for rotatingtl1e locking element but is positioned so that it presents only thelower tip thereof to the underside of the ceiling C011- struction andtherefore is not readily discernible. In order unlock the ceiling boardsfor rernoval or replacoment thereof, it is apparent that the finger 760f each locking element is moved sufliciently to pivotally turn theenlarged head 56 until the longitudinal axis thereof is parallel withtl1e longitudinal zucis of the cross bar. The ceiling board may then belifted upwardly and access to the space above the ceiling board isprovided. If the ceiling board need be replaced, then this is easilyaccornplished and a new ceiling board may be positioned 011 thehorizontal flanges of the cross bars 30 and supporting members 10 andthen locked into position by means of the locking elements.

It is apparent that the ceiling construction described erein may beassembled with any heretofore lmown type ceiling structural members.Moreover, any heretofore known ceiling may be modified to incorporatethe ceiling construcion described herein without requiring elaboratechanges. The cross bars are easily and quickly assembled With thesupporting members by utilizing the new type Clip and a rigidconstruction is forrned thereby. Bach ceiling board or panel isindividually locked into place and may be separately removed, asdesired. This not only enables the ceiling board or panel to oereplaced, but, in addition, aifords accessibility to the space above theceiling boards. Furtherrnore, the undarside of the supporting mem'bersand cross bars provides an attractive design that may be modified Withtne change in size of the ceiling boards. This presents hoth a pleasingand modern efl?ect.

lt will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings anddescribecl in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is clairned is:

1. In a ceiling construction, a plurality of supporting members, aplurality of cross bars secured to said supporting members, ceilingboards supported by said supporting members and cross bars, and meansfor locking said ceiling boards from upward movement, said locking meansincluding a Clip secured to each end 0f said cross bars, a rib formed onthe surface of said clip defining a vertically extending slot, a keylocated in said slot and engaging a face of the adjacent cross bar, saidkey including an elongated head extending above said slot, a shankportion extending through said slot, a foot portion integral with saidshank portion and extending at right angles thereto, and a fingerportion joined to said foot portion and projecting between and below twoadjacent ceiling boards, said finger portion being movable to rotatesaid head into engagement with the adjacent ceiling boards, therebylocking said ceiling boards from upward movement.

2. In a ceiling construction, means for supporting seiling boards, saidsupporting means including supporting members and cross bars, a Clipstructure secured to each of said cross bars, said clip structureincluding a body portion having a rib formed thereon defining avertically extending slot, a key extending between adjacent ceilingboards and having a shank extending through said slot, an elongated headand a foot joined to said shank and extending above and below said ribrespectively, said foot contacting the and of said rib and a portion ofsaid cross bar upon Which a ceiling board is supported to preventendwise movement of said key, said key head engaging the upper side ofsaid ceiling boards, and a finger portion joined to said foot andprojecting below the underside of said ceiling boards, said fingerportion being rotated to move said head to an unlocking position forunlocking said ceiling boards, thereby providing for upward movementthereof.

3. In a ceiling construction, a plurality of supporting members, aplurality of cross bars secured to said supporting members, ceilingboards supported by said supporting members and cross bars, and meansfor locking said ceiling boards from upward movement, said locking meansincluding Clip means at one and cf one of said cross bars, a rib at thesurface of said Clip means defining a vertically extending slot, a keylocated in said slot and engaging a face of the one cross bar, said keyincluding an elongated head extending above said slot, a shank portionextending through said s1ot, a foot portion integral with said shankportion and extending at right angles thereto, and a finger portionjoined to said foot portion and projecting between and below twoadjacent ceiling boards, said finger portion being movable to rotatesaid head into engagement with the adjacent ceiling boards, therebylocking said ceiling boards from upward movement.

4. In a ceiling construction, means for supporting ceiling boards, saidsupporting means including supporting members and cross bars, a clipstructure on one of said cross bars, said clip structure including abody portion defining a vertically extending opening, a key extendingbetween adjacent ceiling boards and having a shank extending through andjournaled in said opening, an elengated head and a foot joined to saidshank and extending above and below said opening respectively, said footengaging the body portion forming said opening and a portion of saidcross bar upon which a ceiling board is supported to prevent endwisemovement of said key, said key head engaging the upper side of saidceiling boards, and a finger portion joined to said foot and projectingbelow the underside of said ceiling boards, said finger portion beingrotated to move said head to an unlocking position for unlocking saidceiling boards, thereby providfing for upward movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS395,129 Gardner et a1. Dec. 25, 1888 2,073036 Voigt Mar. 9, 19372,406315 Blocher Aug. 27, 1946 2,485090 Finch Oct. 18, 1949 2620,906Ketchum Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 578,821 Great Britain July 12, 1946

